General Electric (GE) is likely to be dropped from the Dow Jones Industrial Average after being in the index of 30 companies for over 110 years as an original member since 1896, Deutsche Bank analyst John Inch tells investors in a research note. The chances that GE could be removed from the Dow are increasing as the company continues to face "substantial challenges," the analyst writes. These include "earnings and cash pressure, tough global power generation markets, aggressive downsizing, shrinking its portfolio, management shake-up and SEC investigations," Inch argues. He sees "headline risk" as the most significant risk factor if GE were to be dropped from the Dow, "potentially amplified by GE's high mix of retail investors." Inch notes that the last major Dow shakeup occurred in September 2003, when American Airlines (AAL), Bank of America (BAC) and Hewlett Packard (HPQ) were removed and Goldman Sachs (GS), Nike (NKE) and Verizon (VZ) were added. Inch has a Sell rating on General Electric with a $15 price target. The shares closed yesterday down 33c to $15.95.

04/17/18

BMOC

04/17/18NO CHANGETarget $34BMOCMarket Perform

Bank of America is the best of the 'big four' U.S. banks, says BMO Capital

BMO Capital analyst James Fotheringham kept his Market Perform rating and $34 price target on Bank of America (BAC) after its in-line Q1 earnings but raised his FY18 EPS view to $2.62 from $2.59 and FY19 view to $3.18 from $3.12. Fotheringham says than in contrast, he lowered earnings forecasts for JPMorgan (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Citigroup (C) because of higher costs and lower revenues, but Bank of America's better than expected net interest income rise justifies his view of the bank as the "best of the bunch". The analyst also notes the bank's more favorable valuation trading at a below-average two-year-forward P/E multiple despite his forecast of double the core earnings growth rate of Bank of America's peers.

BMO Capital analyst James Fotheringham says that the recent near-10% pullback in the Bank of America stock price provides investors with a buying opportunity. The analyst contends that the bank's stock trades much more closely in line with short term interest rates rather than the 10-year and believes that its net interest margins will prove to be "insensitive" to lower yields on the benchmark as well as higher LIBOR-OIS spreads. Fotheringham keeps his $34 price target and Market Perform rating on Bank of America, adding that its current two-year-forward P/E valuation multiple is close to its long-term historical average.

Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck said she had expected an easier stress test from the Federal Reserve but that the 2018 CCAR test actually seems tougher than last year, given the more intense recessions and lower asset prices modeled in it. A tougher test makes her less optimistic on her strong payout growth expectations, said Graseck, who sees Bank of America (BAC), JPMorgan (JPM) and Citi (C) as best positioned to "weather the storm" and increase payouts given their resilient balance sheets and significant excess capital. She sees Goldman Sachs (GS), which recently cut buybacks, as at risk from a tougher test, which likely weighs on the bank's 2018 ask, Graseck added.

FBFacebook

$186.68

-0.31 (-0.17%)

05/11/18

BNCH

05/11/18NO CHANGETarget $182BNCHBuy

IAC price target raised to $182 from $176 at Benchmark

Benchmark analyst Daniel Kurnos raised his price target on IAC (IAC) to $182 from $176 after its "strong" quarter, which he said was "headlined by blowout revenue and earnings" from Match (MTCH) and continued strong growth at Angi Homeservices (ANGI). He believes risk to IAC from a Facebook (FB) dating challenge seems largely factored in at current levels, Kurnos added.

05/10/18

DBAB

05/10/18NO CHANGETarget $43DBABBuy

Match Group price target raised to $43 from $33 at Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank analyst Lloyd Walmsley raised his price target for Match Group (MTCH) to $43 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The company's "strong" Q1 results were "overwhelmed' by concerns over Facebook (FB), Walmsley tells investors in a research note. He believes multiple expansion could remain challenged until investors have visibility into Facebook's product and adoption trends.

05/10/18

UBSW

05/10/18UPGRADETarget $48UBSWBuy

Match Group upgraded to Buy at UBS

As previously reported, UBS analyst Eric Sheridan upgraded Match Group (MTCH) to Buy from Neutral. The analyst said the recent risks and fears of competition from Facebook (FB) are priced in and its solid Q1 results show the trends for its core brands remain intact. Sheridan maintained his $48 price target on Match Group shares.

05/10/18

BMOC

05/10/18NO CHANGETarget $45BMOCOutperform

Match Group price target lowered to $45 from $49 at BMO Capital

BMO Capital analyst Daniel Salmon lowered his price target on Match Group (MTCH) to $45, citing the recent sell-off in the stock price after the Facebook (FB) announcement that it is entering into the online dating market. Salmon keeps his Outperform rating however, stating that the valuation discount is too great because he does not expect a "material disruption" to Tinder's use of the Facebook login. The analyst adds that 75% of Tinder users decline to login through Facebook, suggesting that people prefer to keep some space between their social and dating lives.

As previously reported, Drexel Hamilton analyst Cody Acree upgraded NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) to Buy from Hold, citing his optimism about the company closing its merger with Qualcomm (QCOM). While still working to satisfy MOFCOM regulatory approval, NXP reported results that were largely in-line with his seasonal expectations and consistent with the positive industry trends being seen from most of the analog group, Acree tells investors. He raised his price target on NXP shares to $127.50 from $110.

04/26/18

BMOC

04/26/18NO CHANGETarget $55BMOCMarket Perform

Qualcomm price target lowered to $55 from $70 at BMO Capital

BMO Capital analyst Tim Long lowered his price target on Qualcomm (QCOM) to $55 and kept his Market Perform rating. Long says that despite the "favorable" Q2 results, the company announced "much weaker" guidance for the June quarter, noting that while the chip business continues to deliver, the "outlook for royalties is negative". Aside from the ongoing disputes with Apple (AAPL) and Huawei, the analyst points to reduced royalty rates from other licensees, including a lower effective rate from Samsung (SSNLF). Long prefers a neutral stance amid the "ongoing uncertainty around licensing, as well as multiple regulatory investigations".

05/03/18

RHCO

05/03/18NO CHANGETarget $119RHCOBuy

NXP quarter does not confirm bear thesis, says SunTrust

SunTrust analyst William Stein says NXP Semiconductors' (NXPI) miss in Q1, while a bad print, does not confirm the bear thesis on the shares, which he believes centers around a "disengaged management team and a broken product portfolio." Despite the Q1 miss management remains engaged, and the product portfolio "remains robust," Stein tells investors in a post-earnings research note. He thinks management will only demonstrate engagement if the Qualcomm (QCOM) deal breaks. The analyst lowered his price target for NXP Semiconductors to $119 from $121 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares.

As reported earlier, SunTrust analyst William Stein upgraded NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) to Buy, saying that the selloff from the re-filing by Qualcomm (QCOM) for its acquisition with China's Commerce Ministry has taken the stock to "compelling" levels. The analyst contends that even if the deal does not close, the company's stand-alone value is modeled at $121, implying an 18% return from the current level. Stein lowers his price target to $121 from $127.50 as part of his upgrade but sees the "bull case" scenario leading to $135 stock price .

AMDAMD

$12.22

0.27 (2.26%)

04/27/18

JEFF

04/27/18NO CHANGETarget $42JEFFUnderperform

Intel model is 'showing signs of stress,' says Jefferies

Intel (INTC) beat and raised handily last night, but its model is "showing signs of stress," Jefferies analyst Mark Lipacis tells investors in a post-earnings research note titled "Nice Quarter - But Are There Cracks in the Facade?" He raised his price target for the shares to $42 from $38 but reiterates an Underperform rating on Intel, citing increasing capital expenditure intensity, free cash flow being well below earnings, delays in 10nm product ramp and process node transitions, declining gross margins, and increasing competition from Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD).

04/26/18

BARD

04/26/18NO CHANGETarget $20BARDOutperform

AMD blockchain and EPYC platform concerns overblown, says Baird

Baird analyst Tristan Gerra noted Advanced Micro Devices raised its revenue and growth expectations for the year following Q1 results. The analyst said the growth expectations are being driven by new products, while the blockchain-related mix is expected to remain stable. He also said the EPYC and Ryzen ramp continues and its 7nm migration signifies further share gains over time. Gerra reiterated his Outperform rating and $20 price target on Advanced Micro Devices shares.

04/26/18

JPMS

04/26/18NO CHANGETarget $13JPMSNeutral

AMD price target lowered to $13 from $16 at JPMorgan

JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur lowered his price target for AMD to $13 following last night's Q1 results. The analyst expects the competitive front to remain challenging and believes AMD will need to "invest meaningfully" in engineering resources as it attempts to keep pace with the market leaders, which he notes is "dampening earnings power expansion." Sur keeps a Neutral rating on AMD shares.

Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore noted that all three subsegments in Intel's (INTC) data center group were well above trend in Q1, calling the strength in cloud expected but the strength in enterprise and data center comms "surprising." Citing challenges to Intel's manufacturing position, including its 10 nm being pushed out for a second straight year, along with competitive threats from Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD), he maintains an Equal Weight rating on Intel shares. However, e Moore said he has clearly been too cautious and underappreciated how good the surge in cloud spending would be for Intel, raising his price target on the stock to $54 from $43.